Law firm Shoosmiths has appointed Partner Mark Churchman to the firm’s private equity team within the corporate practice, to provide sectoral expertise among existing energy and infrastructure and tech clients, while generating additional streams of work with US-based sponsors investing in the UK and Europe.
According to a press release, Churchman has significant experience advising US-based private equity sponsors on the English law aspects of acquiring UK-headquartered companies in sectors such as software, manufacturing, and pharmaceuticals.
Churchman joins Shoosmiths from Trowers & Hamlins, where he served as Partner for three years, with further experience at DLA Piper, Kirkland & Ellis, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, and Vinson & Elkins. Additionally, he spent two years as In-house Legal Counsel at Quercus Investment Partners.
This appointment brings Shoosmiths’ total corporate partners in London to 12 and its private equity partners across the UK to 10. The firm ranks among the Top 5 most active law firm private equity teams in the UK, based on deal volume, according to Pitchbook.
In addition to his transactional work, Churchman played a key role as a founding member of his previous firm’s UK energy and sustainability group, helping to shape corporate strategies.
Shoosmiths’ corporate practice generated £19.8m in fee income in the first six months of the 2024/25 financial year and is poised for further market share growth. Private equity and M&A continue to be key drivers of profitability, creating opportunities for other departments across the firm.
